title: Feasibility of and barriers to continuity of care in US general surgery residencies with an 80-hour duty week.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current level of continuity of care for following up a single patient through preoperative evaluation, surgery, and postoperative care is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of residents was performed, asking for their best guess regarding the number of patients seen for 6 common and 4 uncommon surgeries, and ranking barriers to continuity of care. The length of time to achieve single-patient continuity of care in 5 patients was derived as well as the creation of odds ratios for the barriers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 274 residents (56 programs) completed surveys. Residency length was 7 years for common surgeries and 9 for complex surgeries. The 30-hour work restrictions, inability to attend clinic, and floor/ward duties were the barriers to continuity of care. These data were unaffected by type of program, the presence of a night float system, or residency year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achieving the level of continuity of care used in this article will require a radical change in the length or structure of general surgery residency programs.
authors.affiliation: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, PA, 15905, USA.
authors.forename: Shawna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dumire
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bost
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*